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South Londonderry supervisors weigh raising fire tax to create new apparatus fund
Summary
At a Sept. 25 workshop, supervisors debated raising the 2025 fire tax from 0.245 mills to 1.00 mill, with 0.80 mills proposed for a new Fire Apparatus Fund and the remainder split between Campbelltown and Lawn fire tax funds; Chairwoman Faith Bucks said she would support a smaller increase, possibly 0.65 mills.
South Londonderry Township’s Board of Supervisors discussed a proposal on Sept. 25 to significantly raise the township’s fire tax and create a dedicated fire apparatus fund. At the workshop, Vice Chairman Jack Custer and Member William Bova recommended increasing the 2025 fire tax rate from 0.245 mills to 1.00 mill and establishing a new Fire Apparatus Fund (Fund 11) funded by 0.80 mills of that rate. The remaining fire tax revenue under the proposal would be split 60/40 between the Campbelltown (04) and Lawn (10) fire tax funds.
The discussion did not produce a formal vote. Chairwoman Faith Bucks said she would support a smaller increase, suggesting a possible rate of 0.65 mills rather than the 1.00 mills proposed by Custer and Bova. Supervisors agreed both fire companies should prepare 2025 Fire Tax budgets for review at the board’s Oct. 23, 2024 workshop before any final decision.
Why it matters: a multi-tenths-of-a-mill change affects property owners’ tax bills and determines how much revenue is available for apparatus purchases and ongoing operations. Under the proposal that Custer and Bova outlined, the bulk of the increase would be directed to a new capital fund to purchase or maintain firefighting equipment, while a smaller share would continue to support company operating budgets.
Board members asked for detailed budgets from both fire companies so supervisors can compare needs and impacts before taking formal action. The workshop minutes record the proposal and the split formula but do not show a formal motion to adopt a new rate; further consideration was scheduled for the Oct. 23 workshop. The board took no binding action on the tax at the Sept. 25 meeting.
